Hellifax
question
What do THEY signify; Spoilers Within
Amac
(last edited
Mar 21, 2014 10:44AM
)
Mar 21, 2014 10:31AM
After finishing the 3rd book of the MM series, I found myself thinking and questioning a lot of the goings-on in this series' apocalypse. I really don't see what I bring up below as plot holes but as mythos stuff that need more exploring or explanation.
In the topic title, 'THEY' refers to the Varmints and a Ghost-thing.
1) Ghost-thing: Something comes after Scott in a darkened building in Halifax, but it was not a Gimp/Moe. What was it? Was it a ghost? Or maybe other Blackmore readers who have read his other titles may know it as a creature/character reference from another book of his (a la King/etc)?
2) Rats: Super-creepy varmints have left me with more questions about Blackmore's undead than any zombie book I've read (so far).
--First, why would undead people that will allow themselves to become frozen in place in pools or walk their limbs off (literally) have the 'sense' to herd themselves away from the threat of zombie rats that eat them? That raises the question that the undead are definitely not dead-dead and may even be, ew, sentient? That messes with your mind--think about it. You discover the undead are self-aware enough to avoid being dead-dead. So, what does that make people that do kill the undead with brain hits? Is it still murder? Definitely self-defense, though lol
--Second, the rats could be the 'total solution' for the zombies but how do you defeat a river (gross) of undead rats once they take care of the Moe?
--Lastly, did Blackmore's apocaplyse start with rats infecting humans (black plague-type scenario) or did humans infect the rats eating off humans infected? Chicken or egg first?
What are your thoughts? (Mr. Blackmore, if you're reading this, you're welcome to chime in!)
In the topic title, 'THEY' refers to the Varmints and a Ghost-thing.
1) Ghost-thing: Something comes after Scott in a darkened building in Halifax, but it was not a Gimp/Moe. What was it? Was it a ghost? Or maybe other Blackmore readers who have read his other titles may know it as a creature/character reference from another book of his (a la King/etc)?
2) Rats: Super-creepy varmints have left me with more questions about Blackmore's undead than any zombie book I've read (so far).
--First, why would undead people that will allow themselves to become frozen in place in pools or walk their limbs off (literally) have the 'sense' to herd themselves away from the threat of zombie rats that eat them? That raises the question that the undead are definitely not dead-dead and may even be, ew, sentient? That messes with your mind--think about it. You discover the undead are self-aware enough to avoid being dead-dead. So, what does that make people that do kill the undead with brain hits? Is it still murder? Definitely self-defense, though lol
--Second, the rats could be the 'total solution' for the zombies but how do you defeat a river (gross) of undead rats once they take care of the Moe?
--Lastly, did Blackmore's apocaplyse start with rats infecting humans (black plague-type scenario) or did humans infect the rats eating off humans infected? Chicken or egg first?
What are your thoughts? (Mr. Blackmore, if you're reading this, you're welcome to chime in!)
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Only just saw this thread--surprised to see it really. Never thought anyone would giving much thought to the rats. Or the ghost.
I'll answer the ghost question. :)
It was indeed a ghost. Perhaps a person who died in the residence. That really was a spur of the moment idea as I wanted something to be waiting there in the darkness for the Scott and company, but I wasn't so keen to have yet another zombie in there.
A ghost fit the bill perfectly. It was only meant as a creepy element, and whether or not I got it right, well, that depends on the reader.
Is it a reference to another book? No, sorry to disappoint. I don't think far enough ahead for elements like that :).
But... maybe I should...? O.o
The Rats? No, I really don't want to comment on them--I think it would ruin the fun. :) But I will say I thought about having crows as well. There were two reasons why I didn't go with crows--one, the resident evil movies already went there.
And two, as an infected carrier, they *could* be a threat, but I couldn't make them undead, as they'd soon drop out of the sky.
And, okay, I'll say this about the rats in the story, which were half-inspired by a personal experience of mine when I was a kid--bringing garbage to the dump about ten klicks outside of town.
This was back when there were no regulations in place for public dumping/garbage disposal, and most trash was taken care of by towering incineration units. I can remember it was a full moon and my dad, who was driving, turned off the headlights just before pulling off a side road in the dumping area. The main incinerator wasn't operating (too late, I suppose), but someone had lit a smaller fire about 400 meters behind the unit, at the end of said side road. Hills of refuse all around.
That's where Dad intended to unload the trash in the trunk.
Before he drove any further, he said "Watch this."
He then turned off the headlights and slowed to barely moving at all. We descended and crept towards that fire. The full moon was beaming down on it all, and it became clear that *something* was moving over that winter road, moving out of the way of the car.
Maybe twenty seconds later, Dad switched the headlights back on.
And in that bleached glare, the very ground rippled with rats of all sizes, bolting to get out of the way of those lights and the soon to be moving car. It was a veritable *ocean* of legs, tails, and hairy backs parting before the car, scurrying for safety.
To this day, I can't tell you the awe and horror I felt (as a twelve year old) of seeing that display of numbers.
To kick it all, my dad drove up to the burning mound, and asked me if I wanted to get out lol. I didn't but he did, and unloaded the trash from the trunk.
So there you go. The inspiration for the rats in the story. That and remembering an old episode of TV 60s (50s?) Tarzan, where rampaging army ants were devouring everything in their path.
Thanks for posting!
I'll answer the ghost question. :)
It was indeed a ghost. Perhaps a person who died in the residence. That really was a spur of the moment idea as I wanted something to be waiting there in the darkness for the Scott and company, but I wasn't so keen to have yet another zombie in there.
A ghost fit the bill perfectly. It was only meant as a creepy element, and whether or not I got it right, well, that depends on the reader.
Is it a reference to another book? No, sorry to disappoint. I don't think far enough ahead for elements like that :).
But... maybe I should...? O.o
The Rats? No, I really don't want to comment on them--I think it would ruin the fun. :) But I will say I thought about having crows as well. There were two reasons why I didn't go with crows--one, the resident evil movies already went there.
And two, as an infected carrier, they *could* be a threat, but I couldn't make them undead, as they'd soon drop out of the sky.
And, okay, I'll say this about the rats in the story, which were half-inspired by a personal experience of mine when I was a kid--bringing garbage to the dump about ten klicks outside of town.
This was back when there were no regulations in place for public dumping/garbage disposal, and most trash was taken care of by towering incineration units. I can remember it was a full moon and my dad, who was driving, turned off the headlights just before pulling off a side road in the dumping area. The main incinerator wasn't operating (too late, I suppose), but someone had lit a smaller fire about 400 meters behind the unit, at the end of said side road. Hills of refuse all around.
That's where Dad intended to unload the trash in the trunk.
Before he drove any further, he said "Watch this."
He then turned off the headlights and slowed to barely moving at all. We descended and crept towards that fire. The full moon was beaming down on it all, and it became clear that *something* was moving over that winter road, moving out of the way of the car.
Maybe twenty seconds later, Dad switched the headlights back on.
And in that bleached glare, the very ground rippled with rats of all sizes, bolting to get out of the way of those lights and the soon to be moving car. It was a veritable *ocean* of legs, tails, and hairy backs parting before the car, scurrying for safety.
To this day, I can't tell you the awe and horror I felt (as a twelve year old) of seeing that display of numbers.
To kick it all, my dad drove up to the burning mound, and asked me if I wanted to get out lol. I didn't but he did, and unloaded the trash from the trunk.
So there you go. The inspiration for the rats in the story. That and remembering an old episode of TV 60s (50s?) Tarzan, where rampaging army ants were devouring everything in their path.
Thanks for posting!
Having read a ton of zombie books I still tell people the zombie rats gross me out the most. Really enjoy the books and will keep reading them if you keep writing them.
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